What’s In Your Trunk?

In Goose Bay in the 60’s a snow shovel was added in the winter and when Goose River froze over allowing a trip to North West River, tire chains, extra clothing and even a few sandwiches were the norm.

In the 70’s in Labrador West things in the tool kit did not change much but when 389 into Quebec opened in the late 80’s and the Trans Labrador Highway and related side roads opened in the 90’s the need for a revised kit became even more of a necessity.

Now there were trips of about 600 kilometers over mostly gravel roads with few services, no communications, not a lot of other travelers to depend on. In the winter there were ice quarries and snow storms, in the summer rocks, flies and dust.

My Tool Kit sort of morphed into an Emergency Kit which has seemed to grow a bit each year. Fortunately the use of this kit has been to serve other travelers more than myself but on the occasion I have was glad to be able to dip into it. Mine is broken down into a couple of containers or storage spots and loaded or not depending on the trip.

Always on board and stored in my top rack are; Disposable Coveralls for when I have to change a tire or do a repair on a muddy or dusty road, a Safety Vest for when doing so, Sneakers to change into if it is really wet, hand towels, and hand cleaner to clean up, Work & Cotton Gloves to protect and keep hands warm, flagging tape and electrical tape to mark locations and repair stuff, a tow sling to aid in getting back on the road or out of snow banks, fire starter and a big candle to provide heat, a fly hood which is a bit of a must in summer, a hank of 1/4″ nylon rope, several garbage bags, jack, and wheel wrench, along with a 12 volt air compressor.

It might seem odd that I carry the jack, wheel wrench and air compressor on top but if one has had to unload a fully packed vehicle to get to them where they came stored when I bought the vehicle it is understandable. I have a cut to fit piece of carpet over the back storage area, it is a bit over a metre square and sure is good to kneel on when changing a tire.

My glove boxes, there are four in my vehicle, contain a lot of junk but a few nice to carry things as well. The always in there and most important thing to have is a Leatherman Super Tool, accept no imitation, I have the accessory kit for it too. Next most important thing is a headlamp, so nice to have rather than trying to hold a flashlight and work. I do have two Mag Lights, small and big, both LEDs and with Lithium batteries. There are spare batteries a power inverter and a few fuses A Fox 40 whistle and a Swiss Army knife with an eyeglass screwdriver.
Of course there is fly dope along with After Bite, band aids, Eno, a few extra of my Rx meds, Gravol for the wife, Tylenol, eye drops and clip on sun glasses. I like to have a tape measure, a knife sharpener and a nail clipper as well as a bit of string plus pen and pencil with a notebook. A few Zip Locks, a credit card ice scraper and keys to cabins of a few friends round it out. Generally there is a GPS or compass too.

Pockets in my vehicle have some stuff as well, fire extinguisher, glass cleaner, windshield washer, TP, tie wraps, more bug spray, oils and depending on season water and tin food. Main storage compartment has rain gear, Ham radio and antenna, reflective triangles, tire repair kit, tube saw, cheap wrench set, ax, collapsible hiking staff and of course Duct tape.

Depending on the trip tossed in the back may be a tent, sleeping bags, dried food, water, one burner stove, 12v coffee pot, shovel, Hi-Lift Jack with accessory kit and always a Thermos of coffee.
I don’t suggest that every motorist on the TLH have such an extensive kit but a few of the basics (Bolded) might be a good idea.

Written by Gordon Parsons aka VO2WW